Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission says it
has received a lot of complaints from consumers on issues bordering
on failed electronic banking transactions and slow speed of
Internet connectivity within the period of lockdown.
It also said it received complaints about arbitrary charges.
The commission said this in a statement issued on Wednesday and
signed by its Chief Executive Officer, Babatunde Irukera.
Irukera in the statement said other complaints received by the
commission were about restricted access or delayed signal release
after payment for payTV services; excessive increases in prices of
certain medical devices such as infrared thermometers, sanitizers,
face masks, chloroquine and Vitamin C.
He added that complaints were received on increase in prices of
food items and insufficient supply of electricity and arbitrary
billing.
He said the commission’s current operational priorities centred
on addressing key competition and consumer protection issues
arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said, “The commission notes that the prevalent complaints are
failed electronic banking transactions and associated delays in
restoration.
“Although some suppliers and retailers have demonstrated
circumspection in compliance with the commission’s release, as well
as enforcement efforts, some others have taken advantage of the
current restriction of movement to unfairly increase prices in an
unreasonable manner.”
The FCCPC boss said the commission was already pressing criminal
charges against some flagrant violators and was expanding
investigation into other players and industries.
He said, “The commission restates its determination including
retrospectively after the pandemic to hold violators to the
appropriate weight of the law.”
He said the commission had created a dedicated platform for the
pandemic-related complaints.
Irukera said the commission was operating with limited capacity
to address the barrage of complaints and recognised that many
industry players were experiencing similar limitations.
He said the commission would continue to encourage producers and
providers to prioritise compliance with consumer protection laws
and responsiveness to their customers.
Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission says it
has received a lot of complaints from consumers on issues bordering
on failed electronic banking transactions and slow speed of
Internet connectivity within the period of lockdown.
It also said it received complaints about arbitrary charges.
The commission said this in a statement issued on Wednesday and
signed by its Chief Executive Officer, Babatunde Irukera.
Irukera in the statement said other complaints received by the
commission were about restricted access or delayed signal release
after payment for payTV services; excessive increases in prices of
certain medical devices such as infrared thermometers, sanitizers,
face masks, chloroquine and Vitamin C.
He added that complaints were received on increase in prices of
food items and insufficient supply of electricity and arbitrary
billing.
He said the commission’s current operational priorities centred
on addressing key competition and consumer protection issues
arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said, “The commission notes that the prevalent complaints are
failed electronic banking transactions and associated delays in
restoration.
“Although some suppliers and retailers have demonstrated
circumspection in compliance with the commission’s release, as well
as enforcement efforts, some others have taken advantage of the
current restriction of movement to unfairly increase prices in an
unreasonable manner.”
The FCCPC boss said the commission was already pressing criminal
charges against some flagrant violators and was expanding
investigation into other players and industries.
He said, “The commission restates its determination including
retrospectively after the pandemic to hold violators to the
appropriate weight of the law.”
He said the commission had created a dedicated platform for the
pandemic-related complaints.
Irukera said the commission was operating with limited capacity
to address the barrage of complaints and recognised that many
industry players were experiencing similar limitations.
He said the commission would continue to encourage producers and
providers to prioritise compliance with consumer protection laws
and responsiveness to their customers.